tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830677756643235962024-03-13T08:38:24.110-07:00Winter in YellowstoneBette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-18265047822527492512010-03-29T06:20:00.000-07:002010-03-29T06:22:47.395-07:00Heading Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CpUHnFvtI/AAAAAAAAAV4/zj6WUH4YOlY/s1600/IMG_0409.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CpUHnFvtI/AAAAAAAAAV4/zj6WUH4YOlY/s400/IMG_0409.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454045311851151058" /></a><br /><div>Do we have to?</div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-26649641815581875452010-03-29T04:14:00.000-07:002010-03-29T04:46:35.882-07:00HellroaringThe day after our Garnet Hill hike we went back and walked part of the Hellroaring Trail. The trail is named for Hellroaring Creek which was named by a prospector during spring runoff. <div><br /></div><div>It's only a mile downhill to the suspension bridge (a 600 foot drop down muddy and snow packed switchbacks). We wondered how they built the suspension bridge over the Yellowstone. Packing in the concrete and steel cables must have been fun.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CONAxG4CI/AAAAAAAAAVw/5oWdVpazJ8I/s1600/IMG_1766.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CONAxG4CI/AAAAAAAAAVw/5oWdVpazJ8I/s320/IMG_1766.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454015502941085730" /></a><br /></div><div>There were lots of elk north of the river. Elk are the most skittish animals we've encountered in the park. Probably because these elk wander about 8 miles north out of the park in the fall and and get shot at. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7COBDFDzQI/AAAAAAAAAVo/wb8QlKeT_Rc/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7COBDFDzQI/AAAAAAAAAVo/wb8QlKeT_Rc/s320/IMG_0400.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454015297403211010" /></a><br /></div><div>Though at the same time there are elk hanging around the buildings in Mammoth. They are fine if you are next to your car in a pullout by the road, that's where you are suppose to be. But people walking on trail is a problem for them.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CNqrYJEbI/AAAAAAAAAVg/V765IJhZnLY/s1600/IMG_0424.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CNqrYJEbI/AAAAAAAAAVg/V765IJhZnLY/s320/IMG_0424.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454014913083675058" /></a><br /></div><div>We sent these packing up the slope. Philosophically you would like your presence not to alter the animals behavior, but that's hard with elk when you are hiking in the backcountry.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CNOQsWPBI/AAAAAAAAAVY/GQpK6Jbb8-I/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CNOQsWPBI/AAAAAAAAAVY/GQpK6Jbb8-I/s320/IMG_0418.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454014424884329490" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CM2L_hZaI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/sk7UAIGSDKc/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 178px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CM2L_hZaI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/sk7UAIGSDKc/s320/IMG_0422.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454014011305715106" /></a><br /></div><div>Wolves like elk. We thought this wolf was just ahead of us, since tracks were melting out fast. You can also see older and much smaller coyote tracks to the left of the wolf tracks. A coyote weighs about 30 lbs and a wolf 100 lbs. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CMeEqSsSI/AAAAAAAAAVI/1XMNwiI-YdU/s1600/IMG_1754.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CMeEqSsSI/AAAAAAAAAVI/1XMNwiI-YdU/s320/IMG_1754.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454013597020762402" /></a><br /></div><div>On the way out we saw grizzly tracks which weren't there on our way in. Exciting to see when the tracks are fresh and going in the same direction as you are. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CMSPOJoKI/AAAAAAAAAVA/DRzom_7gY6M/s1600/IMG_1768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CMSPOJoKI/AAAAAAAAAVA/DRzom_7gY6M/s320/IMG_1768.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454013393697087650" /></a><br /></div><div>The bear veered off the trail and appeared to head back down towards the nice meadows down by the Yellowstone and not up the switchbacks. I'm on the switchbacks below looking back at the Hellroaring looking at the bear and enjoying the vista.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CMFHskJmI/AAAAAAAAAU4/gGTd7KSTib8/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CMFHskJmI/AAAAAAAAAU4/gGTd7KSTib8/s320/IMG_1776.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454013168338871906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CL5Y_88OI/AAAAAAAAAUw/XvgAoYU_TlI/s1600/IMG_1780.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S7CL5Y_88OI/AAAAAAAAAUw/XvgAoYU_TlI/s320/IMG_1780.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454012966825160930" /></a><br /></div></div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-66073394752430624602010-03-25T05:34:00.001-07:002010-03-25T09:25:08.836-07:00More Bear!<div>Monday, Bette and I hiked the Garnet Hill loop trail out of Tower Junction. Weather wasn't that great, with quite a few snow showers, though we did get some sun breaks. The trail starts out going through the rolling sage brush of Pleasant Valley towards the Yellowstone River. You encounter the Hellroaring Trail (what a name), and a suspension bridge across the river. More on the Hellroaring in our next post.</div><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6uGRJRRo5I/AAAAAAAAAUo/5C11dsFFZHg/s1600/IMG_1732.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6uGRJRRo5I/AAAAAAAAAUo/5C11dsFFZHg/s320/IMG_1732.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452599402966393746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6uFw4jJbdI/AAAAAAAAAUg/HUP-98RZsSc/s1600/IMG_1730.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6uFw4jJbdI/AAAAAAAAAUg/HUP-98RZsSc/s320/IMG_1730.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452598848722136530" /></a><div><br /></div><div>There were signs of spring with these flowers about to bloom.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6uFPaJqCTI/AAAAAAAAAUY/nYciNMYYLBA/s1600/IMG_1741.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6uFPaJqCTI/AAAAAAAAAUY/nYciNMYYLBA/s320/IMG_1741.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452598273626474802" /></a><br /></div><div>Ran across a few elk skeletons. The one below was probably from this winter. Some of the bones appeared to be partially buried. We wondered if a mountain lion had killed the elk since a lion will cover up its kill. The kill was also at the base of the steep cliffs on the northwest side of Garnet Hill, which looked like good lion country.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6tajks4nTI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/mhVdNJuJFVs/s1600/IMG_1740.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6tajks4nTI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/mhVdNJuJFVs/s320/IMG_1740.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452551341055974706" /></a><br /></div><div>The last part of the trail entered Yancey's Hole, the site of an old hotel during the early days of the park. It's where people now take wagon rides from Roosevelt Lodge to a cowboy barbecue. On the way in we saw bear tracks along the muddy trail. A little bit later as we walked down the wagon/stage road we saw a large dark brown animal in the snow covered flats. It was not behaving like a bison. Through the binoculars we could see it was a grizzly bear!</div><div><br /></div><div>Adrenaline really kicked in though the bear was a good safe distance away across the hole. He was pretty clear through our binoculars, as we watched the bear play in the snow. He rolled around on his back, laid on his back with his hind legs in the air with rear paws held by front paws (happy baby pose), sat up to look around and laid flat out on his back with front and back legs outstretched like a human looking up at the sky (corpse pose). After playing he started moving off in a direction away from us which was a relief so we started again walking down the road. The photo below was taken probably at the closest we got to the bear. At that point he was ambling around the base of the draw sniffing the ground, and taking a break every now and then to sit down and look around. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6taBPPYXxI/AAAAAAAAAUI/xJEN1QNdkHM/s1600/IMG_1749.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6taBPPYXxI/AAAAAAAAAUI/xJEN1QNdkHM/s320/IMG_1749.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452550751179530002" /></a><br /></div><div>The bear was upwind of us, so it wasn't clear that he ever was aware we were there. At times he sat down and looked in our direction, but never got up on his hind legs to look around. We were in clear view the whole time (just sage brush). I tried to sketch some of his antics. It was quite the thrill!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6tZaY2cPwI/AAAAAAAAAUA/oekJG3n6GKA/s1600/IMG_0436.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6tZaY2cPwI/AAAAAAAAAUA/oekJG3n6GKA/s320/IMG_0436.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452550083744382722" /></a><br /><br /></div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-76384881568701737302010-03-19T13:21:00.001-07:002010-03-19T13:34:58.729-07:00First Bear of spring!Dave was the program assistant for a photography class the last few days. The class found this bear sleeping on his day bed near the Yellowstone river picnic area Wednesday evening. (the location makes it impossible for me to wipe Yogi Bear images out of my mind). I was very jealous that I missed seeing him so I went back to the picnic area Thursday morning. Luckily he was still snoozing away on the same daybed. He had built up so much grass around himself that he looked like a strange bird on a nest. As far as I can tell the only big change between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning was that by Thursday he had rotated 180 degrees so that his head was pointed in the opposite direction. I went to hike the beaver ponds loop right after seeing him so every shadow under a Douglas fir on the entire hike made me feel my pack strap to be sure my bear spray was present. I hope I get to see more bears before we go, but I don't want to wake one up in case he's grumpy when disturbed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PdskIsppI/AAAAAAAAAT4/S_5KR9xkBWU/s1600-h/IMG_0359.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PdskIsppI/AAAAAAAAAT4/S_5KR9xkBWU/s320/IMG_0359.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450443731732571794" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-91717680779036922312010-03-19T12:57:00.000-07:002010-03-19T13:15:04.738-07:00Blacktail Creek Trail<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Last Sunday we hiked to the Yellowstone river. The trail traveled across some rolling sage covered hills and then went down the side of a canyon formed by blacktail creek. The snow was melted from the southern facing slopes but was still clinging to the northern facing ones. When we finally reached the river there was an impressive suspension bridge to take us across.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PZKRpveNI/AAAAAAAAATo/vIYguLY7jrY/s1600-h/IMG_1677.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PZKRpveNI/AAAAAAAAATo/vIYguLY7jrY/s320/IMG_1677.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450438744608831698" /></a><br />There are some great campsites along the river-it would be a hot hike down there in summer but if you left really early in the morning you could be swimming by the time it got hot.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PZJ413rlI/AAAAAAAAATg/czuZqYeI3JI/s1600-h/IMG_1687.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PZJ413rlI/AAAAAAAAATg/czuZqYeI3JI/s320/IMG_1687.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450438737948814930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PZJEgnUrI/AAAAAAAAATY/PFNrmd6LaXQ/s1600-h/IMG_1689.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PZJEgnUrI/AAAAAAAAATY/PFNrmd6LaXQ/s320/IMG_1689.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450438723901018802" /></a><br />On the way back up we scanned the hillsides for bears as we had heard one was seen in the area earlier in the week. We didn't have any luck. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PZIpeCtWI/AAAAAAAAATQ/KptkaVUegrQ/s1600-h/IMG_1698.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PZIpeCtWI/AAAAAAAAATQ/KptkaVUegrQ/s320/IMG_1698.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450438716642473314" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-88031702255880879462010-03-19T12:31:00.000-07:002010-03-19T13:16:23.331-07:00Beaver Pond LoopI headed towards Mammoth on my day off yesterday in search of a trail with little enough snow to be hikable. The "beaver pond loop" starts and finishes near the Mammoth Hotel. The hotel is closed for the season now so I had the trail all to myself. It climbed up above the hotel area for some nice views of the Gardner river canyon.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PTPX6EEfI/AAAAAAAAATI/Wr4x7H1MIYc/s1600-h/IMG_1706.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PTPX6EEfI/AAAAAAAAATI/Wr4x7H1MIYc/s320/IMG_1706.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450432235117482482" /></a><br />It then wound in and out of Douglas fir stands to a series of beaver ponds. This one was the largest of the ponds. Two dams were visible creating a large upper and small lower pond.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PTOhlBUiI/AAAAAAAAATA/nHgcbVMl55o/s1600-h/IMG_1712.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PTOhlBUiI/AAAAAAAAATA/nHgcbVMl55o/s320/IMG_1712.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450432220533707298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PTOBYlrAI/AAAAAAAAAS4/cmEN80D_rnw/s1600-h/IMG_1714.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PTOBYlrAI/AAAAAAAAAS4/cmEN80D_rnw/s320/IMG_1714.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450432211891629058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PTNZOQcVI/AAAAAAAAASw/PSI-QdWA_Iw/s1600-h/IMG_1717.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PTNZOQcVI/AAAAAAAAASw/PSI-QdWA_Iw/s320/IMG_1717.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450432201110876498" /></a><br />The route back was though a high sagebrush covered plateau. At one point I came across this herd of elk. Right after I took their picture they realized I was there and all went running off. I tried to assure them that they could safely stay bedded down but they weren't convinced.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PTM7AYljI/AAAAAAAAASo/DpkUk75GJhY/s1600-h/IMG_1719.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6PTM7AYljI/AAAAAAAAASo/DpkUk75GJhY/s320/IMG_1719.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450432192999626290" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-61013996957734070972010-03-19T04:12:00.000-07:002010-03-19T04:21:11.533-07:00Mystery BirdI found this bird track while skiing for what looks to be the last time around Round Prairie. It was a frosty morning with a light dusting of new snow. Warm afternoon the day before. There were no other tracks in the vicinity. No little mouse footprints.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6Nc0MWePqI/AAAAAAAAASg/SdvcWe5BD9Q/s1600-h/IMG_0099.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6Nc0MWePqI/AAAAAAAAASg/SdvcWe5BD9Q/s320/IMG_0099.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450302025786867362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6NchmoAUGI/AAAAAAAAASY/R26Es_vO7G0/s1600-h/IMG_0103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S6NchmoAUGI/AAAAAAAAASY/R26Es_vO7G0/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450301706422210658" /></a><br /></div><div>My first assumption was some sort of owl jumping on a mouse or other small rodent under the snow. Owls do rely on hearing, so would not need to see the little mouse. But who knows. It's a neat track anyway.</div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-41096882576656366812010-03-13T14:35:00.001-08:002010-03-13T15:00:07.434-08:00Where the sheep and the antelope playAlthough we thought it would be hard to top the white rabbit sighting we decided to go for a short hike after our pizza in Gardiner. As Dave said in the previous post, there's almost no snow left in that part of the park. We hiked a short way up the "Rescue creek trail". Rescue creek was (mis)named because it was thought that it was the site of the rescue of Truman Everts. Everts was a member of the Washburn expedition who was lost for 37 days in Yellowstone. When he became separated from his party in the southern part of the park his horse ran off carrying most of his gear away. He survived by eating thistles (and as a result eventually after being found needed to drink bear grease as a laxative-imagine 37 days of an all celery diet). Luckily he had some opera glasses still with him which he was able to use to start fires to keep warm. He was eventually rescued ( just not on rescue creek) by two fellows who never received their reward money. Washburn felt that since Everts was alive he should pay the reward and Everts contended that he would have found his own way back without the rescuers. At any rate, we got treated to some good pronghorn antelope sitings and even some big horn sheep were down on the flats.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5wWTkb68XI/AAAAAAAAASQ/A0P9Be2qr80/s1600-h/IMG_0303.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5wWTkb68XI/AAAAAAAAASQ/A0P9Be2qr80/s320/IMG_0303.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448254174665568626" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5wWTPbt1DI/AAAAAAAAASI/QT5g8Sl86to/s1600-h/IMG_0327.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5wWTPbt1DI/AAAAAAAAASI/QT5g8Sl86to/s320/IMG_0327.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448254169027564594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5wWS3wKsFI/AAAAAAAAASA/HTFlp-t6RDk/s1600-h/IMG_0320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5wWS3wKsFI/AAAAAAAAASA/HTFlp-t6RDk/s320/IMG_0320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448254162670891090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5wWSX8mCWI/AAAAAAAAAR4/D8pioxikmB8/s1600-h/IMG_0323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5wWSX8mCWI/AAAAAAAAAR4/D8pioxikmB8/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448254154133080418" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-4952273616876208082010-03-12T10:44:00.001-08:002010-03-12T11:22:46.072-08:00White Rabbit<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5qNVwwNAQI/AAAAAAAAARw/l48j1RkqRMY/s1600-h/IMG_0263.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5qNVwwNAQI/AAAAAAAAARw/l48j1RkqRMY/s320/IMG_0263.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447822104261886210" /></a><br /><div>The day after our trip up to the Pebble Creek meadows we went into Gardiner to go to the post office, grocery store, and get a pizza at the KBar. The environment is a lot different than up in the mountains. Gardiner is always in a rain shadow, and never gets much snow even in a normal year. The elevation there is about a mile above sea level. The Pebble Creek meadows were up at about 8200 feet.<div><br /></div><div>On the way into town near where the Boiling River enters the Gardiner River, we saw a white rabbit in the snowless sage brush along the side of the road. It bolted up the hill, and stopped long enough to get a clear picture. It doesn't stick out as much when it's near the snow patches, but it looked pretty vulnerable lower down where there was no snow.</div><div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5qMcs00zRI/AAAAAAAAARo/klnsuI_VpRo/s1600-h/IMG_0260.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5qMcs00zRI/AAAAAAAAARo/klnsuI_VpRo/s1600-h/IMG_0260.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5qMcs00zRI/AAAAAAAAARo/klnsuI_VpRo/s320/IMG_0260.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447821123954986258" /></a><br /></div><div>Jack Rabbits rely on speed (up to 40 miles and hour), and protective coloration to avoid predators. This one needs its summer brown-gray coat. The winter white doesn't look so helpful with all the snow gone.<br /><br /></div></div></div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-13307680305339311412010-03-11T07:20:00.001-08:002010-03-11T07:41:59.815-08:00Pebble CreekGiven the poor x-country ski conditions we thought it would be a good time to snowshoe up to the upper meadows of Pebble Creek. The short 1.5 mile trail up is steep, climbing about 1000 feet from Warm Creek. You can see where we started below.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kMscVKamI/AAAAAAAAARg/FTBAVfe_PlM/s1600-h/IMG_1634.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kMscVKamI/AAAAAAAAARg/FTBAVfe_PlM/s320/IMG_1634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447399181940058722" /></a><br /></div><div>The meadow was extensive, and untracked except for one set of ski tracks. No big bison churning up the snow here. We felt like we were defiling the scene with our snowshoe tracks. Our skis would have been nice once in the meadow. Snowshoes were slow going.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kMTyVk-rI/AAAAAAAAARY/YFGRazMJefE/s1600-h/IMG_1658.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kMTyVk-rI/AAAAAAAAARY/YFGRazMJefE/s320/IMG_1658.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447398758350650034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kMCCBTDxI/AAAAAAAAARQ/neusN1z0h2k/s1600-h/IMG_1644.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kMCCBTDxI/AAAAAAAAARQ/neusN1z0h2k/s320/IMG_1644.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447398453322911506" /></a><br /></div><div>There were lots of small mammal tracks and these tracks that appeared to be cat tracks. The tracks were pretty melted out, so probably look bigger than the orginals.</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kLS-MH5tI/AAAAAAAAARI/aXAq_SSXOQ4/s1600-h/IMG_1653.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kLS-MH5tI/AAAAAAAAARI/aXAq_SSXOQ4/s1600-h/IMG_1653.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kLS-MH5tI/AAAAAAAAARI/aXAq_SSXOQ4/s320/IMG_1653.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447397644840724178" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Out in the meadow I thought the stride wasn't that long, but the photo below makes it look bigger. So the choices are bobcat, lynx, mountain lion, and probably one of the first two given the type of animals (small) available to eat.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kK3PsldsI/AAAAAAAAARA/8W8BKKfUf5c/s1600-h/IMG_1655.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kK3PsldsI/AAAAAAAAARA/8W8BKKfUf5c/s320/IMG_1655.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447397168503944898" /></a><br /></div><div>Photos don't do justice to the expanse of white meadow, and the surrounding mountains. Plus the silence. The trail down to the Pebble Creek Campground heads down the meadow curving somehow out of sight to the left through a large gap in the mountains.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kKjopdtrI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/VsOvugB2Eh0/s1600-h/IMG_1647.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5kKjopdtrI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/VsOvugB2Eh0/s320/IMG_1647.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447396831604356786" /></a><br /></div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-4323511816369233042010-03-09T13:20:00.000-08:002010-03-09T13:36:33.639-08:00Spring?It looks like Spring is here. About three to four weeks early. High temperatures have been in the 40s the last few weeks, and a lot of sunshine. Rivers opening up, walk ways melting. We may have done our last ski. It was doable but the skis clattered on the ice, and we had to walk some of the downhills -- ice packed luge runs. Guess we will look for bears. There are reports of a few out and about.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5a-eAZJhRI/AAAAAAAAAQw/u2SUQJ7nGHE/s1600-h/IMG_0232.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5a-eAZJhRI/AAAAAAAAAQw/u2SUQJ7nGHE/s320/IMG_0232.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446750222062028050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5a949JMY7I/AAAAAAAAAQo/NQdxgSQ3Wgs/s1600-h/IMG_0229.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5a949JMY7I/AAAAAAAAAQo/NQdxgSQ3Wgs/s320/IMG_0229.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446749585534641074" /></a><div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5a9F87CYfI/AAAAAAAAAQg/YZQmiAVVNbs/s1600-h/IMG_0234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5a9F87CYfI/AAAAAAAAAQg/YZQmiAVVNbs/s320/IMG_0234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446748709301936626" /></a><br /><br /></div></div></div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-56131383670966168402010-03-06T07:20:00.000-08:002010-03-06T10:25:02.856-08:00Coyote<div>Coyote are common in the park. You often see them trotting along the road, and they regularly serenade us. We found this one mousing near Tower Falls along the ski trail.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5J17x7riRI/AAAAAAAAAQY/40xwQVTi_us/s1600-h/IMG_0237.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5J17x7riRI/AAAAAAAAAQY/40xwQVTi_us/s320/IMG_0237.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445544569320737042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5J1UgH8ZEI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/lvHh7133mTg/s1600-h/IMG_0243.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5J1UgH8ZEI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/lvHh7133mTg/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445543894525436994" /></a><br /><div>I missed the pounce.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5J0fZkTthI/AAAAAAAAAQI/wzGNVcLv6jA/s1600-h/IMG_0248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5J0fZkTthI/AAAAAAAAAQI/wzGNVcLv6jA/s320/IMG_0248.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445542982232290834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5JzqBMBAsI/AAAAAAAAAQA/ORlm4FkUuuo/s1600-h/IMG_0253.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S5JzqBMBAsI/AAAAAAAAAQA/ORlm4FkUuuo/s320/IMG_0253.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445542065154884290" /></a><div>Looks like it missed this time, but it kept at it as we passed by.</div></div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-69798002808956404672010-03-02T23:14:00.001-08:002010-03-02T23:36:21.405-08:00Something Different<div><br /></div><div>While Bette and her sister Diane were touring the Northern Range, I was supporting a bit different type of class -- The Artistic Journal in Deep Winter. It turned out to be a lot of fun. The class started off with making your own journal. Stitching the binding was a challenge. But here is my journal. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S44PNTWe42I/AAAAAAAAAP4/NStDdgJiXKw/s1600-h/IMG_0221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S44PNTWe42I/AAAAAAAAAP4/NStDdgJiXKw/s320/IMG_0221.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444305720744797026" /></a><br /><div>The class included working indoors and outdoors with different media. Below are students sketching along the Lamar River. It was a balmy afternoon in the 40s.<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S44NftpVsnI/AAAAAAAAAPw/-HgK8LCyFyQ/s1600-h/IMG_0078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S44NftpVsnI/AAAAAAAAAPw/-HgK8LCyFyQ/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444303838017598066" /></a><br /></div><div>The instructor, Eleanor Clark, had some great specimens you could work with. I found the pheasant feet to be quite attractive for some reason. Am I another Olaus Murie or what?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S44NNMS_XgI/AAAAAAAAAPo/0iSS5mSe44o/s1600-h/IMG_0220.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S44NNMS_XgI/AAAAAAAAAPo/0iSS5mSe44o/s320/IMG_0220.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444303519827844610" /></a><br /></div><div>Well maybe not. Here is my memory drawing of coyote and bison in the Lamar Valley.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S44M0KxouwI/AAAAAAAAAPg/yn9RMLsbcoI/s1600-h/IMG_0222.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S44M0KxouwI/AAAAAAAAAPg/yn9RMLsbcoI/s320/IMG_0222.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444303089922784002" /></a><br /></div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-25705992847089723462010-03-01T15:07:00.000-08:002010-03-01T15:30:29.497-08:00Dinner timeOn our way back to the ranch after snowshoeing Diane and I stopped at a pull-out by the Lamar river where we had seen photographers earlier in the day. The photographers ( who were Francophone Canadians) were getting into their car but told us (once we found the one who spoke English) that if we watched the wood pile we would see the animals. We went and watched the woodpile as instructed and just as I was starting to think about going back and making dinner the otters apparently also were thinking about dinner. All of a sudden three little brown heads appeared and then the otters dashed out onto the ice and slid down into the water. We watched them for a long time as they took turns surfacing with fish in their mouths.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xL_ExmuEI/AAAAAAAAAPY/osLSnj__F-M/s1600-h/IMG_0109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xL_ExmuEI/AAAAAAAAAPY/osLSnj__F-M/s320/IMG_0109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443809596569729090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xL-u3YrfI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/DnTBnkYZ9TI/s1600-h/IMG_0110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xL-u3YrfI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/DnTBnkYZ9TI/s320/IMG_0110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443809590688394738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xL9ltT6cI/AAAAAAAAAPI/ejNsLkLoFp0/s1600-h/IMG_0111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xL9ltT6cI/AAAAAAAAAPI/ejNsLkLoFp0/s320/IMG_0111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443809571050351042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xL9GO_MtI/AAAAAAAAAPA/SgKU9bjXaK0/s1600-h/IMG_0145.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xL9GO_MtI/AAAAAAAAAPA/SgKU9bjXaK0/s320/IMG_0145.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443809562601665234" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-71242040984365844642010-03-01T14:55:00.000-08:002010-03-01T15:07:37.794-08:00A different sort of visitorMy sister, Diane, came to visit for a long weekend. On Friday we went for a ski in the northern part of the park. She did really well especially considering that it was only her second time on cross country skis.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xHigSVIFI/AAAAAAAAAO4/05_n1yb_2xQ/s1600-h/IMG_1617.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xHigSVIFI/AAAAAAAAAO4/05_n1yb_2xQ/s320/IMG_1617.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443804707692027986" /></a><br />On Saturday we skied the Tower Falls trail and got a look at Tower Falls and Calcite Springs (a thermal feature on the Yellowstone river).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xHhgbeV1I/AAAAAAAAAOw/ulbhE-JiGdI/s1600-h/IMG_1624.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xHhgbeV1I/AAAAAAAAAOw/ulbhE-JiGdI/s320/IMG_1624.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443804690550511442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xHg8cS_gI/AAAAAAAAAOo/UQgMUiCn_hQ/s1600-h/IMG_1626.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xHg8cS_gI/AAAAAAAAAOo/UQgMUiCn_hQ/s320/IMG_1626.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443804680890285570" /></a><br />Later Saturday afternoon we snowshoed into a canyon near Pebble creek where this being in canyon wall looked down on us.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xHf0ha8lI/AAAAAAAAAOg/6nHj5mX7Fxc/s1600-h/IMG_1627.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xHf0ha8lI/AAAAAAAAAOg/6nHj5mX7Fxc/s320/IMG_1627.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443804661584425554" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-104878537511387952010-03-01T14:43:00.000-08:002010-03-01T14:55:26.381-08:00VisitorsLast Wednesday I was cleaning the bunkhouse when the radio crackled. My first thought was "Oh no, the lunch group is here and I haven't made coffee for them yet". It turned out that the visitors that John was telling me about didn't want any coffee, they were just passing through. When I opened the bunkhouse door to greet them they decided to veer across the parking area instead. This is probably a good thing because I don't think they would have fit through the door.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xD0h5UWcI/AAAAAAAAAOY/UcSp23VoYd8/s1600-h/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xD0h5UWcI/AAAAAAAAAOY/UcSp23VoYd8/s320/IMG_0065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443800619315124674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xDzdx3L_I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/AHBcMGhyvLQ/s1600-h/IMG_0074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xDzdx3L_I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/AHBcMGhyvLQ/s320/IMG_0074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443800601030242290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xDyx3HQsI/AAAAAAAAAOI/RaKOGyh46aM/s1600-h/IMG_0070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4xDyx3HQsI/AAAAAAAAAOI/RaKOGyh46aM/s320/IMG_0070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443800589241107138" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-80120703923087642982010-02-24T14:48:00.000-08:002010-02-24T15:14:20.107-08:00Republic Pass IIWe finally got back to Republic Pass on a sunny day. This time we could really see the mountains surrounding the pass. I think this is my favorite of the places we have skied so far. Perhaps that should not be surprising because these mountains are part of the Absarokas. When our friend Ben first introduced me to the Yellowstone ecosystem we backpacked in the Absarokas and most of Dave and my subsequent backpack trips have also been in this range. The range extends for 80 miles so we still have lots backpacking to do! The name "Absaroka" is what the Crow people called themselves. It translates to "children of the long beaked bird" and probably refers to ravens rather than crows. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4Wu5vgv_HI/AAAAAAAAANc/F9rxsvkrurs/s1600-h/IMG_1600.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 288px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4Wu5vgv_HI/AAAAAAAAANc/F9rxsvkrurs/s320/IMG_1600.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441948031776717938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4Wu5FIIO7I/AAAAAAAAANU/3n5w6i-wo0E/s1600-h/IMG_1594.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 384px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4Wu5FIIO7I/AAAAAAAAANU/3n5w6i-wo0E/s320/IMG_1594.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441948020399160242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4Wu4bmJOeI/AAAAAAAAANM/pyEGIe4Buvs/s1600-h/IMG_1598.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 288px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4Wu4bmJOeI/AAAAAAAAANM/pyEGIe4Buvs/s320/IMG_1598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441948009250765282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4Wu3qQ5LZI/AAAAAAAAANE/AEo9sbaMUt8/s1600-h/IMG_1592.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 288px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4Wu3qQ5LZI/AAAAAAAAANE/AEo9sbaMUt8/s320/IMG_1592.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441947996008295826" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-60415730149023240202010-02-24T14:30:00.001-08:002010-02-24T14:47:51.438-08:00Specimen RidgeOne day last week we decided to head to the top of Specimen ridge. The ridge got its name because it has petrified trees on it. Unfortunately for us, the trees are on the steep sides of the ridge and hard to access in winter. We snowshoed up to the top of the ridge as the climb was too steep for skiing but once on top there were just rolling hills and we were able to just amble along and enjoy the views. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4WpnNxgdqI/AAAAAAAAAM8/lw7TG6aw13M/s1600-h/IMG_1586.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4WpnNxgdqI/AAAAAAAAAM8/lw7TG6aw13M/s320/IMG_1586.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441942215924414114" /></a><br /><br />The petrified trees are located somewhere in the conifers off to the left. We'll have to wait for a summer visit to see them up close rather than just through binoculars.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4WplzIBGWI/AAAAAAAAAM0/ypSmba5M3YU/s1600-h/IMG_1573.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4WplzIBGWI/AAAAAAAAAM0/ypSmba5M3YU/s320/IMG_1573.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441942191591201122" /></a><br />The weather was funny while we were on the ridge. There were snow showers over some of the distant ridges but we had sunny skies over us.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4WplOd-DUI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Y6JxdLp-b0U/s1600-h/IMG_1584.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4WplOd-DUI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Y6JxdLp-b0U/s320/IMG_1584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441942181751164226" /></a><br />From the ridge we had a nice view of Mt. Washburn. Our friend Don skied up to its top the same day we were walking the ridge (26 miles 3,000 feet elevation gain). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4WpkUyCNhI/AAAAAAAAAMk/1sAMH1Xg2fs/s1600-h/IMG_1575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S4WpkUyCNhI/AAAAAAAAAMk/1sAMH1Xg2fs/s320/IMG_1575.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441942166266066450" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-24416269763194355412010-02-15T15:08:00.000-08:002010-02-15T15:33:16.290-08:00East RimOn a recent day off we skied along the east rim of the Yellowstone river canyon. The park grooms a trail on the opposite rim and we could hear people laughing and talking on that side but we had the east side to ourselves. At least we thought we did. After we were back at the ranch we found out that one of the institute instructors was filming a cougar on the rocks beneath the trail that day. We did see cougar tracks but didn't see that cat itself.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3nVtOjWKPI/AAAAAAAAAMc/adzjocb2NOg/s1600-h/IMG_1521.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3nVtOjWKPI/AAAAAAAAAMc/adzjocb2NOg/s320/IMG_1521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438612998003763442" /></a><br />When we got near the top of the trail we saw some big horn sheep. We went into whisper-mode thinking that we needed to be very careful not to spook them.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3nVsyExRaI/AAAAAAAAAMU/dgs_WKK2yug/s1600-h/IMG_1478.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3nVsyExRaI/AAAAAAAAAMU/dgs_WKK2yug/s320/IMG_1478.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438612990359324066" /></a><br />As it turned out, they actually walked towards us and seemed more curious than afraid.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3nVsGKVF6I/AAAAAAAAAMM/h1VPjEvY7LY/s1600-h/IMG_1486.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3nVsGKVF6I/AAAAAAAAAMM/h1VPjEvY7LY/s320/IMG_1486.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438612978571483042" /></a><br />Only when they got pretty close did they finally begin to run off in the other direction.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3nVr462TII/AAAAAAAAAME/YlcB05YJ0n4/s1600-h/IMG_1501.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3nVr462TII/AAAAAAAAAME/YlcB05YJ0n4/s320/IMG_1501.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438612975016889474" /></a><br />Some eventually went over to the edge of the rim. That's the Yellowstone river down below.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3nVrakWb0I/AAAAAAAAAL8/5sfUDicB4dk/s1600-h/IMG_1508.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3nVrakWb0I/AAAAAAAAAL8/5sfUDicB4dk/s320/IMG_1508.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438612966869462850" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-27020867276724541892010-02-14T23:53:00.001-08:002010-02-14T23:55:20.604-08:00Howling<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j90cN5UPI/AAAAAAAAALM/6v8pMxxRfio/s1600-h/cropped+wolves.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j90cN5UPI/AAAAAAAAALM/6v8pMxxRfio/s320/cropped+wolves.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438375627419373810" /></a><br />It's 1 am. I'm in the bunkhouse, and just finished the Slough Creek post. The wolves are howling up a storm and they are close by. Will be an interesting walk in the dark back to the cabin.Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-34313199155692956612010-02-14T23:16:00.001-08:002010-02-15T06:27:33.444-08:00Slough CreekBette and I have made several ski trips up Slough Creek. Slough Creek is one of my favorite spots in the park. The first time I was there was back in September 1978 with my friend Don. We were on our way back from an attempt at moving out west. Recall us sitting by the campfire at night cooking hotdogs on a stick while listening to bugling bull elk. My brother and I made several fall fishing trips to Yellowstone in the late eighties and both times we camped in the campground there, and fished the lower sections and first meadow. Then in the early nineties while Bette was backpacking with our Wisconsin friend Ben in the Absarokas southwest of Cody, I was fishing there and saw two whooping cranes plus a helicopter that was flying in to pick up a hiker mauled by a grizzly bear.<div><br /></div><div>Our first trip up was during a period when it seemed that all our days off and ski trips were on cloudy days with light snowfall. You missed some of the more spectacular mountain views, though skiing through a light snowfall in the mountains is beautiful too. The first picture is looking down after climbing up most of the way from the trailhead. We started way down at the bottom. The second picture is of Bette up in the first meadow with the patrol cabin in the background.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j7t5hdMxI/AAAAAAAAALE/Lhy2z8oOgvk/s1600-h/IMG_1465.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j7t5hdMxI/AAAAAAAAALE/Lhy2z8oOgvk/s320/IMG_1465.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438373316003705618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j7awvr-mI/AAAAAAAAAK8/sbZq-1Ifxzg/s1600-h/IMG_1461.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j7awvr-mI/AAAAAAAAAK8/sbZq-1Ifxzg/s320/IMG_1461.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438372987229960802" /></a><br /><div><div>We went back on a sunny day with our co-volunteer John (aka Yellowstone Jack of the Wolf Collaring - Bison Stampede Fame). Snow was great and someone kindly broke trail ahead of us. Made it up farther but still didn't make the second meadow. Another time for that.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j7H5OqkCI/AAAAAAAAAK0/oJuOQQYqO2w/s1600-h/IMG_1533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j7H5OqkCI/AAAAAAAAAK0/oJuOQQYqO2w/s320/IMG_1533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438372663089860642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j6s6PKVoI/AAAAAAAAAKs/TCclpxJwTDc/s1600-h/IMG_1536.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j6s6PKVoI/AAAAAAAAAKs/TCclpxJwTDc/s320/IMG_1536.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438372199503910530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j6X5RdQwI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Iog3zZEcWo8/s1600-h/IMG_1543.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j6X5RdQwI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Iog3zZEcWo8/s320/IMG_1543.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438371838467851010" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Bison in the meadow were pretty feisty. Must be the relatively mild winter. These two were knocking heads. Not sure what the one is doing with its tongue out.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j6CWC4B1I/AAAAAAAAAKc/N8KBUfLntrE/s1600-h/bison_01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 163px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j6CWC4B1I/AAAAAAAAAKc/N8KBUfLntrE/s320/bison_01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438371468234196818" /></a><br /></div><div>Then it was back out. The snow was soft enough so that the downhill was a lot of fun. Managed to make it out without crashing for a change.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j51KuJ7QI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Y8J1QceLn44/s1600-h/IMG_1547.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j51KuJ7QI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Y8J1QceLn44/s320/IMG_1547.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438371241856199938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j5eVwPtfI/AAAAAAAAAKM/JeDXYoDog0o/s1600-h/IMG_1550.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3j5eVwPtfI/AAAAAAAAAKM/JeDXYoDog0o/s320/IMG_1550.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438370849680766450" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-37364140983817604742010-02-14T06:51:00.000-08:002010-02-14T07:02:50.509-08:00Cabin 8Earlier we posted photos of the bunkhouse. Here is what are cabin looks like.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3gPsOf1kKI/AAAAAAAAAKE/JPWS3k4_tw8/s1600-h/IMG_0091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3gPsOf1kKI/AAAAAAAAAKE/JPWS3k4_tw8/s320/IMG_0091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438113802530164898" /></a>Below is the view out the front door.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3gPE52RcaI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/ioIXFBO1aFo/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3gPE52RcaI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/ioIXFBO1aFo/s320/IMG_0031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438113126972223906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3gO1Msx2JI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/FO1n5B6839s/s1600-h/IMG_0037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3gO1Msx2JI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/FO1n5B6839s/s320/IMG_0037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438112857154771090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3gOio2EH5I/AAAAAAAAAJs/JQwD4e_ipZs/s1600-h/IMG_0035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3gOio2EH5I/AAAAAAAAAJs/JQwD4e_ipZs/s320/IMG_0035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438112538292395922" /></a><br />That's it.</div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-87673823889676038132010-02-08T06:15:00.000-08:002010-02-08T16:48:30.292-08:00Wolves and Wolf WatchersWolves are the stars of winter wildlife watching in the park. People visit the park often enough to get to know the different wolf personalities, and some wolf watchers have the number of their favorite wolf (collared wolves get a number) on their vanity license plates--Like "YNP 21" or "Wolf 302". It's quite a subculture. Do you know there are also geyser watchers?<div><br /></div><div>Viewing is usually from the road and often at quite a distance. Scopes are required to see anything, and there are some huge telephoto lens. Below we are watching a group of wolves which are beyond the trees that are between the buses and the background ridge.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3Cr9ios8xI/AAAAAAAAAJk/4cbEDdE6Vxo/s1600-h/IMG_0055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3Cr9ios8xI/AAAAAAAAAJk/4cbEDdE6Vxo/s320/IMG_0055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436033823994082066" /></a>People moved up to the rise on the other side of the road to get a better look.<div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3CrrGASYoI/AAAAAAAAAJc/t3z-Hh5FWZE/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3CrrGASYoI/AAAAAAAAAJc/t3z-Hh5FWZE/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3CrrGASYoI/AAAAAAAAAJc/t3z-Hh5FWZE/s320/IMG_0058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436033507070730882" /></a><br /><div>The photo below is of the the same wolves that were being watched in the above photos, only taken the day before. These wolves were just above the road. The photo was taken with our new 300mm lens on maximum zoom, while I was shivering. It gets cold standing around doing nothing. I'm surprised you can see anything.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are four wolves in the picture (and a wolf shaped rock). The wolves up by the tree are members of the silver pack of four wolves. Named for the seated silver colored wolves. The black one below the tree may be a male (wolf 146) trying to either join the pack or woo away a female. They females weren't showing a lot of interest in him.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3CrN9d7mYI/AAAAAAAAAJU/vQI2hoJ9Fpc/s1600-h/IMG_0047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S3CrN9d7mYI/AAAAAAAAAJU/vQI2hoJ9Fpc/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436033006562941314" /></a><br /></div><div>If you are interested, <a href="http://wolves.wordpress.com/tag/wolves/yellowstone-wolves/">Ralph Maughan's blog</a> is a good source of information on the goings on of the Yellowstone wolves, and those outside the park too.</div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-74436837580443606012010-02-05T11:04:00.000-08:002010-02-05T11:28:57.816-08:00John and the wolf collaringThe wolf biologist have started collaring wolves this week. On Wednesday we got word that they were working right near the Buffalo ranch. Dave dropped a group of students off near the location of the collaring but there was no room for the bus. He came back to the ranch to get me and we watched from further away. First the spotting plane came into sight.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2xuKUaPDhI/AAAAAAAAAI0/Ejm4pUikO8Q/s1600-h/IMG_0056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2xuKUaPDhI/AAAAAAAAAI0/Ejm4pUikO8Q/s320/IMG_0056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434839973885840914" /></a><br />Then the helicopter came in with the darter hanging out of the door. The noise and wind spooked a herd of bison who started running full speed away from the helicopter.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2xuJ-X8HHI/AAAAAAAAAIs/euVlMsrpJnw/s1600-h/IMG_0057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2xuJ-X8HHI/AAAAAAAAAIs/euVlMsrpJnw/s320/IMG_0057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434839967970630770" /></a><br />Unfortunately, our coworker John had not heard that the helicopter was coming and had headed out to ski down the valley. The bison wound up heading straight for him. Those of us who knew him couldn't decide whether to watch John or the wolf. Once we realized that he was not directly in their path we could not stop laughing. (John has a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time) We'll probably tell more John stories later. He is now calling himself Yellowstone Jack and is planning a series of stories about his adventures. This one will be called Yellowstone Jack and the Stampeding Bison. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2xuJcJZ_uI/AAAAAAAAAIk/-xh2Blut-mw/s1600-h/John+crop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2xuJcJZ_uI/AAAAAAAAAIk/-xh2Blut-mw/s320/John+crop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434839958782869218" /></a><br />This last photo was taken by John as the bison ran by. I love the way the bison's tongue is hanging out. He said he could hear them grunting as they went by. The biologists successfully replaced an old collar on one wolf and got a collar on a second one from a pack that previously had been uncollared. Apparently the wolves, bison, and John survived the ordeal just fine. We all enjoyed viewing his photos on the big screen TV and hearing his tale over wine and baked brie that evening.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2xuI8q4rsI/AAAAAAAAAIc/FM2tQRg7SO8/s1600-h/John%27s+view.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2xuI8q4rsI/AAAAAAAAAIc/FM2tQRg7SO8/s320/John%27s+view.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434839950333357762" /></a>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183067775664323596.post-10323841454571143162010-02-04T05:53:00.000-08:002010-02-04T09:26:56.545-08:00Bear Claws<div>I found these bear claw marks on a lodgepole pine up a small drainage off of the Bannock Trail just outside the northeast part of the park. People say bears claw trees to communicate their presence (both male and female), and sometimes to take out their frustrations. Wonder how people know that.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2rScZK4TSI/AAAAAAAAAIU/0qt__TB28LI/s1600-h/IMG_1428.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2rScZK4TSI/AAAAAAAAAIU/0qt__TB28LI/s320/IMG_1428.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434387285610614050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2rR9ZsdckI/AAAAAAAAAIM/BOOwX_E2mIs/s1600-h/IMG_1429.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_F54DOUHWE/S2rR9ZsdckI/AAAAAAAAAIM/BOOwX_E2mIs/s320/IMG_1429.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434386753175515714" /></a><br /><div>You can tell the size of the bear by the width of the claw marks. I'm not sure how old these were (trees grow, increasing the spread and height of the marks). </div><div><br /></div><div>Hopefully we will see some grizzly bears in March. The males come out first. Given the low snow levels and relatively mild temperatures we might see a bear this month!<br /><br /></div>Bette and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265534584314987842noreply@blogger.com3